Here are some best practices that helped me.
Hey there!
Being a student can be stressful, I know.Between juggling classes, homework, friendships and extracurricular activities, it adds it up quickly. Please know that you’re not alone in feeling stressed, overwhelmed and anxious. Many students of all ages feel the same. In fact, many adults feel these ways as part of their daily lives, even though they may not be students anymore. Let’s start with accepting these feelings for what they are. They are temporary. They are manageable. They are normal.
But how do you manage them? Here are some best practices that helped me when I was a student.
Admitting that I’m stressed, overwhelmed and/or anxious was a good first step. I did this by writing in a journal, speaking to a student advisor, school counselor and/or telling my teachers. My goal was to not keep these feelings bottled up and confide in people I trusted and knew could help me.
Asking for help when I was stressed, overwhelmed and/or anxious was a common second step. I asked my advisor, counselor and/orteacher(s) for help in managing the many responsibilities I had. Forinstance, I asked for guidance on prioritizing the homework assignments I had that week. I.e.“Which ones should I focus on first?” Or, I asked fortips on how to balance out after-school activities with personal tasks. I.e. “How can I cut down the time spent cleaning my room each week?”
Being patient with myself as I applied the feedback was a crucial final step. It’s one thing to hear advice, it’s anotherthing to be able and ready to apply it. It may take time to change your schedule orlearn how to prioritize tasks. That is okay!Also, some advice may not work for you. That’s okay too! The goal here is to try, see what works and keep working through it.
Just remember, being a student is tough for everyone at some point in theirlives. Yet, you can and will get through it. You have the intelligence, drive and means to survive anything life throws at you. Black girls can code and do so much more!
